title: Somatostatin receptor-based molecular imaging and therapy for neuroendocrine tumors.
abstract: Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are tumors originated from neuroendocrine cells in the body. The localization and the detection of the extent of NETs are important for diagnosis and treatment, which should be individualized according to the tumor type, burden, and symptoms. Molecular imaging of NETs with high sensitivity and specificity is achieved by nuclear medicine method using single photon-emitting and positron-emitting radiopharmaceuticals. Somatostatin receptor imaging (SRI) using SPECT or PET as a whole-body imaging technique has become a crucial part of the management of NETs. The radiotherapy with somatostatin analogues labeled with therapeutic beta emitters, such as lutetium-177 or yttrium-90, has been proved to be an option of therapy for patients with unresectable and metastasized NETs. Molecular imaging can deliver an important message to improve the outcome for patients with NETs by earlier diagnosis, better choice of the therapeutic method, and evaluation of the therapeutic response.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310009, China ; Department of Nuclear Medicine, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325003, China ; Zhejiang University Medical PET Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310009, China ; Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310009, China ; Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Imaging of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310009, China.
authors.forename: Ling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Kun
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Qi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Huanbin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Zhengwei
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.forename: Hongzheng
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008187:Lutetium; D057054:Molecular Imaging; D018358:Neuroendocrine Tumors / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017481:Receptors, Somatostatin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013004:Somatostatin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015021:Yttrium Radioisotopes
chemical_list: D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D017481:Receptors, Somatostatin; D015021:Yttrium Radioisotopes; D013004:Somatostatin; D008187:Lutetium